Real Madrid Castilla

Unlike the English football league system, reserve teams in Spain play in the same league system as their senior team rather than a separate league. However, reserve teams cannot play in the same division as their senior team. Therefore Real Madrid Castilla are ineligible for promotion to the Primera Division. Reserve teams are also no longer permitted to enter the Copa del Rey. In the past the reserve teams of both Real Madrid and FC Barcelona have blurred the lines between being a reserve team and a separate entity. In addition only under-23 players, or under-25 players with a professional contract can switch between senior and reserve teams.

History

AD Plus Ultra

In 1948 Agrupación Deportiva Plus Ultra, a local amateur team, then playing in the Tercera División, agreed to become a feeder club for Real Madrid. Originally formed in 1930, the team took its name from the national motto of Spain. Real gave AD Plus Ultra financial support and in return were given first refusal on the club's best players. By 1949 they made their debut in the Segunda División and in 1952 the club became the official Real reserve team. In 1954 they won the Spanish U-19 Cup, beating RCD Español 2-1 in the final and in 1959 they reached the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey, losing 7-2 on aggregate to eventual finalists Granada CF.

In the 2006/07, the team was relegated to the second division B under the management of ex- Real Madrid legend Míchel after occuping 19th place in the league and a disappointing season. Michel received a lot of criticism, and accepted all the blame for the team bad performances especially for those who had a wonderful season in the 2005/06 season like De la Red, Granero (both now in Getafe CF) and Javi Garcia. The reserves produced another quality players including Mata with Valencia CF and Negredo with UD Almeria.

Samuel Eto'o was only 15 years old when Real Madrid signed him, thus he wasn't eligible to play for Real Madrid B in 1996-97 but trained with the B team. He wasn't allowed to play for the B team in 1997-98 because Real Madrid B was in 2ªB which doesn't allow non-EU players. He was loaned out to further his development. Etoo's teams